In-line blender



g- 1967 F. J. ZAVASNIK ET AL 3,337,194

IN-LINE BLENDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 9, 1965 INVENTORS F. J. ZAVASN IK R. R. GOINS 9 ATTORNEYS EXTRUDER FIG. 3

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN-LINE BLENDER F. J. ZAVASNIK ET AL INVENTORS F. J. ZAVASN IK R. R. GOINS ATTORNEYS Aug. 22, 1967 Filed Aug. 9, 1965 United States Patent 3,337,194 IN-LINE BLENDER Fredrick J. Zavasnik and Robert R. Goins, Bartlesville,

Okla, assignors to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 478,175 1 Claim. (Cl. 259-180) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An in-line blender for particulate materials comprising in combination an elongated chamber having provided therein a plurality of baflle means each so adapted as to partially traverse said chamber thereby obstructing the path flow of solids at one or more points within said chamber.

This invention relates to a blending apparatus for mixing two or more components. More specifically, this invention relates to a novel apparatus for achieving near perfect blending of particulate, free flowing, granular materials.

In the handling of two or more streams of particulate, free flowing, granular materials such as polymer pellets and the like, difficulty is sometimes experienced in the blending of these two streams so as to obtain a uniform blend thereof. Such a problem becomescritical, for example, where pigmented pellets are to be mixed with nonpigmented pellets prior to extrusion so as to obtain a uniform color in the final product. To produce an acceptably uniform blend of the two streams it is necessary to commingle intimately all the component resins. A suitable equipment must positively intermix all the contents of the stream. Important too is accomplishing such intermixing and blending with as few extra handling steps as possible, and preferably with no extended handling beyond the ordinary routine handling accorded every batch of resin. While many types of blending apparatus are known in the art, the utilization of such apparatus to improve the blend results in not only the additional cost of the apparatus but also requires the additional handling of the materials to be blended.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel blending apparatus to achieve satisfactory blending of two or more streams of particulate materials.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method for the extruding of particulate ma terials.

Other objects, advantages and features of our invention will be readily apparent from a study of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. a

In accordance with the present invention, we have discovered that a near perfect blend of two or more streams of particulate, free flowing, granular materials can be achieved by the use of a blending apparatus comprising a cylindrical chamber having disposed within the chamber a plurality of suspended bafiles which are so adapted as to preclude flow through the chamber without the particulate materials contacting at least one of same.

A full description of our invention is given herewith in conjunction with the attached drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view of a specific design of the blending apparatus; and

FIGURE 2 is illustrative of a specific pattern for an arrangement of bafiles in the blending apparatus; and

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic view of an extruding operation which utilizes the novel blending apparatus.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the apparatus in a preferred form comprises a chamber having a funnel-shaped member 12 positioned in the upper end of same which is "ice provided with opening 14 which allows the particulate materials which are to be mixed to flow through the lower zone 16. Outlet 18 although shown to be the open unobstructed end of the cylinder 10, can be provided with means (not shown) for controlling the outflow rate from the chamber 10. Within the chamber is a plurality of bafiie plates 20 which are positioned through the chamber 10 so that particles flowing through the chamber will contact at least one of same. Bafile plate 20 is attached to the wall of chamber 10by means of section 22 thereof. While any means can be used to secure the bafile plates 20, such as welding or screws, the plates are most conveniently secured by screws 26 which enable ready and easy removal if required. While the material selected for the construction of the blender generally precludes the breaking of the bafile plates 20, normal wear, such as from abrasion from use after a sufliciently long period of time, will require the replacing of one or more plates. However, as a practical matter, the in-line blender of this invention requires little, if any, maintenance when employed for its intended purpose.

As a specific but illustrative blender'formed in accordance with this invention, an in-line blender is formed from an 8-inch long cylinder having a 4-inch diameter. Positioned at the inlet end of the cylinder is a 4-inch diameter funnel extending l-inch into the interior of same and hav ing a l /z-inch diameter hole in the spout thereof. Positioned around the circumference of the cylinder on its internal wall and extending inwardly toward the center axis thereof and toward the outlet end of the blender are bafiies which are secured by means of screws to the wall and which are inclined at an angle of about 45 degrees to the wall of the cylinder. Each of the bafile plates are wide and have a /2" securing section extending from the plate. The length of the plates vary. The first ring of bafiles or plates is placed one inch below the upper extremity of the cylinder and the second and succeeding rings are spaced at increments of 1 inch. The starting point for each ring of baflles is olfset 30 from the preceding ring. The plates in each ring are approximately equally spaced about the ring. The number of plates and the length of the plates, excluding the V2 inch securing section, in each of the six rings is shown below:

Plate number Ring The resulting pattern within the cylinder will be that as illustrated in FIGURE 2.

In operation as shown in FIGURE 3, particulate particles are received from two or more sources such as storage zones 23 and 24 by means of conduits 27 and 28, respectively, in mixing zone 30'. The particulate, free flowing, granular material after passing through zone 30, which is constructed in a manner such as described in connection with FIGURE 1 is in a satisfactorily blended condition and is introduced into hopper 32 of the extruder 34 from wherein it'is handled in conventional manner to ultimate utilization of the blended polymer particles for formation of a desired object.

While the invention has been illustrated and preferably useful in blending of particulate particles of plastics, it is apparent that the blender can achieve blending of any particulate, free flowing material. When desired, various 3. additives can be added to the material to further assist in the flow of same.

While the drawings illustrate the blender of this invention to have a cylindrical configuration, it is Within the scope of the invention to alter the configuration, as would be obvious to one skilled in the art. Likewise, while the preferred configuration for the baffle members has been illustrated, variations of the geometry ofthe baffle positions are within the scope of this invention.

Likewise, while it is preferred that the funnel member 12 be employed in utilizing the in-line blender of this invention, the funnel member can be omitted and satisfactory blending is achieved. However, the funnel serves to introduce the material to be blended into the central zone of the blender which in turn results in an even better blending of the particles.

As will be evident to those skilled in the art, various modifications of this invention can be made, or followed, in the light of the foregoing disclosure, without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

We claim:

An in-line blender for free flowing solid particles which comprises in combination:

(a) an elongated cylindrical chamber having open ends;

(b) an inverse conical funnel positioned in the upper end of said chamber;

(c) first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth rings of equally spaced bafile members positioned circumferentially Within said chamber and partially traversing said chanmber so as to obstruct flow therethrough, each of said bafile members being inclined downwardly toward the outlet end of said chamber;

said first ring positioned adjacent the upper end of said chamber but below said inverse conical funnel and composed of three bafile members disposed equally around the inner circumference of said chamber;

said second ring being positioned below said first ring and composed of three baffie members therein disposed equally around the inner circumference of said chamber;

said third ring being positioned below said second ring and composed of six bafiie members disposed equally around the inner circumference of said chamber;

said fourth ring spaced below said third ring and composed of three baffie members disposed equally around the inner circumference of said chamber;

said fifth ring being positioned below said fourth ring and having six baflle members disposed equally around the inner circumference of said chamber;

said sixth ring positioned below said fifth ring but above the outlet of said cylindrical chamber and composed of six baffle members disposed equally around the inner circumference of said chamber;

and the starting point for positioning each of said bafile members in each of said rings being offset 30 degrees from the starting point of the bafile members in the preceding ring.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,051,452 8/1962 Nobel 259 X 3,051,453 8/ 1962 Sluijters 259-180 X 3,066,920 12/1962 Prosser 259-180 3,155,377 11/1964 God-man 259-180 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,277,718 10/ 1961 France.

581,849 10/ 1946 Great Britain.

WILLIAM I. PRICE, Primary Examiner. 

